It wasn’t exactly “Family Feud,” but it was a family affair July 23 at Ruidoso Downs in southern New Mexico when full brothers Ocean Lad and Oceanor faced off in a $10,000 maiden claiming race going 7 1/2 furlongs.

The pair raced eyeball-to-eyeball the whole way around, with 3-year-old Ocean Lad prevailing over his 4-year-old brother by a nose on the wire. Both are by the stallion Ocean Sound out of the Irish-bred mare Orlass.

“It was like Affirmed and Alydar out there,” said K. W. Sharp, who co-owns Ocean Lad with Rough Country. “It was only a maiden claiming race, but it was really special to see them go at it. This is what horse racing is all about.”

Ocean Lad was winning for the first time in eight starts. He is trained by Weston Martin, a leading trainer at Ruidoso, and was bred in California by Deron Pearson.

Oceanor is now winless in 15 races, but has four seconds and four thirds to his credit. He is owned by Kelli and Shannon Shurbet, and was bred in California by Melinda Blue.

Orlass, by Hamas, won twice in her 13 career starts, and finished third in the 2001 Prix Saraca in France. Ocean Sound and Oceanor might just see more of their family on the racetrack in coming years, as Orlass has produced a 2-year-old full brother, a yearling full brother, and a weanling full sister to them.